New Delhi: After removing homelessness and beggars from the Hanuman Mandir area at Connaught Place, Delhi’s police have started an anti-encroachment drive near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib.
According to the police, they want to eliminate encroachment from public places and also save homeless people from cold bones.
Since Tuesday, more than 50 people have shifted to a shelter.
“We found that they were addicted to drugs and cleanliness was another problem.
Winter was also approaching,” said an officer.
Police said several cases of street crime had been reported from CP in the past two-three months.
Some anti-social elements live among homeless people and commit crimes, add officers.
Previously, the teams from the Connaught Place police station were led by the Station House Officer Upender Kumar shifted more than 300 beggars from the Hanuman Mandir area.
On Tuesday, the drive began at the Gurdwara Roundabout.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Deepak Yadav said they had rehabilitated several homeless people with the help of NGOs.
Other officers said some beggars also volunteered to shift to the nearest shelter.
The police told people not to push beg and go to shelter if they wanted to distribute food.
An officer said beggars were provided with important items such as food and blankets with NGO assistance.
“We also try to offer education to their children and provide vocational training to homeless people,” he added.
The police keep watches in the cleaned area so that beggars cannot return to these places.
“They have lived on the road for years and sometimes they don’t want to leave it.
So we have to advise them with the help of NGOs,” said an officer.
Imam Chief Gurdwara said they were pleased with the police’s efforts and would help homeless people at a dignified life shelter.